• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2017

In this paper, a novel measurement method of radial artery pulse waveform using robotic applanation tonometry (RAT) was present to reduce the errors by the pressing direction of the vessel. The RAT consisted of an array of pressure sensors and 2-axis tilt sensor, which was attached to the universal joint with a linear spring and five-DOF robotic manipulator with a one-axis force sensor. Using the RAT mechanism, the pulse sensor could be manipulated to perpendicularly pressurize the radial artery. A pilot experimental result showed that the proposed mechanism could find the optimal pressurization angles of the pulse sensor within ${\pm}3^{\circ}$standard deviations. Coefficient values of variation of maximum pulse peaks extracted from the pulse waveforms were 4.692, 6.994, and 11.039 % for three channels with the highest magnitudes. It is expected that the proposed method can be helpful to develop more precise tonometry system measuring the pulse waveform on the radial artery.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2009

In this study, pulse waves were measured at radial artery using non-invasive tonometric pulse pressure measurement system, SphygmoCor(AtCor, Australia), according to subject's posture. Then it was analysed whether the pulse wave parameters, which contain heart activities, change among three different postures (upright stand, sit, and supine). And it was also verified that the pulse wave parameters change among blood pressure level groups(hypotensive, normotensive, and hypertensive). As a results, posture effects were verified in time information of pulse wave rather than amplitude. But some parameters calculated by ratio of two amplitude, such as augmented index(AI) and ratio of central aortic pulse and radial artery pulse, showed significant difference according to postures. In post hoc test, time to the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ pulse peak(P_$T_1$, and P_$T_2$), ED(ejection duration), and HR(heart rate) showed significant difference among posture groups with each other. In comparison of blood pressure groups, it was verified that the parameters related to amplitude of pulse wave showed significant difference rather than time information.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.259-263
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• 2018

A radial artery pulse wave is measured while pressing an artery with constant force. However, pulse waveform measurements vary depending on pressing force and direction. Accurate pulse waveform measurements are important for analysis. Thus, it is necessary to define the measurement range of the permissible force and direction from which a correct pulse waveform is derived. In this study, pulse waves were generated by a pulse wave generator for accurate control. The pulse waves generated for different angles and pressing forces were analyzed. The augmentation index (AIx), which is the most commonly used index for evaluating vascular stiffness, was analyzed. The AIx was measured within ${\pm}6^{\circ}$ of the vessel direction and within ${\pm}8^{\circ}$ perpendicular to the vessel direction with a force that was 25% or more of the pressing force at which the maximum pressure wave was generated. We identified the applicable pressing force and angle range by analyzing the effect of pressing angle on the pulse wave. The AIx analysis performed using the pulse wave measurement device is reliable and reproducible.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.138-142
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• 2016

A pulse measurement by tonometry provides useful information for diagnosis, including not only blood pressure and heart rate but also parameters for estimating a condition of the cardiovascular system. Currently, various pulse measurement devices based on the tonometry have been developed. A reliability of these devices is determined by a positioning technic between the sensor and the blood vessel and a controlling technique of the pressurization level. An angle of the sensor for the pulse measurement seems to be highly related with a measured signal, however, the objective studies for this issue have been not published. In this paper, the variation of the pulse signals by tonometry direction was experimentally assessed according to the angle of the sensor. In order for guaranteeing the repeatability of the experiment, we used a pulse generator device, which can generate human pulse signal by using silicon tube and fluid pump, and developed a structure for precise adjustment of the angle and the pressurization level of the sensor. The angle of the sensor was acquired by an inclinometer, which was attached at the opposite side of the sensor. As results, a coefficient of variation (CV) of a maximum amplitude (MA) of the pulse wave was largely increased over the angle range of $-9{\sim}9^{\circ}$. Furthermore, the changes of the pulse shape showed different aspects according to the sign of the angle tilted along the blood vessel. It is expected that the results of this study can be helpful for developing more precise pulse measurement devices based on the tonometry and applying in clinic.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2008

In pulse diagnosis, floating pulse and sinking pulse are frequently used for diagnosis about where disease is located and how much severe they are. However, in what mechanism floating pulse and sinking pulse arise is not known well. There are two point of views on substantial of floating pulse and sinking pulse. The first one is the floating and sinking degrees is the expression on the depth of pulsation. And, the second one is floating and sinking pulse is based on the response of pulsation to the indent pressure on radial artery. In this paper, we discussed these two opinions in the view point of tonometric measurement. The process for diagnosis on floating pulse and sinking pulse is similar to the tonometric measurement for non invasive blood pressure or intraocular pressure. We modelled the degrees of depth of pulsation with different indent pressures for initial pulsation feeling and different slopes of indent pressure lines. From this modelling, we can confirm the effect of pulsation depth on P-H curve, that is, in the model where lower pulsation is assumed, the shift of optimal indent pressure to the right was observed. The response of pulse pressure to the indent pressure was tried to be modelled with the degrees of mean blood pressure. Consequently, we tried to model the phenomenon of floating and sinking pulse for the first. And, from this modelling, we can get abundant understanding on how floating and sinking pulse can be caused. In the further study, we want to prove the suitability of this tonometric measurement based modelling with various studies including ultrasound measurement for the depth of pulsation in different EMI subjects.